Game board and game



R. G. EBERT.

GAME BOARD AND GAME.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1920.

1,421,678. Patented July 4, 1922.

n a i GAME BOARD AND GAME.

Application filed April 26, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH G. EBERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented a new and Improved Game Board and Game, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is a new and improved game suggesting chess and checkers yet differing radically from these games. The game is played with a board and sets of playing pieces, as shown in the drawing, by reference to which it will be observed that- Figure 1 is a plan view of the game board.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one each of the three sets of playing pieces.

The board 1 is divided into sixty-three squares of three alternating colors R (red), WV (white), B (blue). There are three sets of twenty-one pieces each, the pieces of the respective sets being colored to correspond to the coloring of the squares on the game board and in the drawings are indicated by the reference letters R, W and B.

The arrangement of the board is nine rows of seven squares each.

Definitions.

A line is the term applied to any series of squares extending directly across the board between the .players. It is compact when there are no vacant squares between the pieces of the line in home. Home is the space to either side of the middle row and belongs to the pieces of the same color as the lower right hand square.

A setting is the placing of the pieces and the subsequent plays until no further move or skip by one player is possible. Each setting constitutes a game unless playing for points, in which case, there is played either a fixed number of settings or the play is continued until one player scores the necessary number of points. The number of settings or points to constitute the game is agreed upon before the play begins.

A block occurs when one player not in compact can neither move or skip.

oints are counted as follows, to-wit: For winning the setting, ten; when setting is won by compact, then one additional point goes to the winner for each move required to bring opponents pieces in compact, assuming no blocking by winners pieces; if opponents own pieces prevent bringing his Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July a, 1922.

Serial No. 376,775.

pieces to compact then two points are awarded for each lateral move necessary. When the set is won by reason of the last move the winner in addition to the ten points for winning, counts one point for each further move or skip he may be able to make.

A piece moves directly forward one square at a time. The square to which the piece is moved must be vacant. A piece skips directly or diagonally forward over an opponents adjoining piece into a vacant square immediately beyond. If, from the square gained a further skip is practicable it must be made in the same play carrying this as far forward as possible. A skip must be played rather than a move. here more than one skip is available the player selects which one he will make. The pieces skipped are not removed from the board. If a skip has been overlooked, attention may be called thereto and the play corrected. Should opponent ever have already played, the in correct play must stand.

Players exchange colors after each setting. Red always has the first play. When all sixty-three pieces are to be set the player having second move places the pieces on the board. After thoroughly mixing, the pieces should be drawn from a receptacle held out of vision and set in regular sequence, from left to right, commencing at row farthest from player. When all of the squares are filled, the pieces of the color not in play are removed and the play begins. It will be seen that this leaves something to chance and secures practically a different formation with each setting, thus precluding fixed par-- ticular opening moves or skips.

The pieces in play may also be placed upon the squares of their color or in compact formation in the three first rows of opponents home. For young children, the board may be turned sidewise and eighteen pieces used on the two rows nearest the player, the play to follow rules as above suggested or any other rules as may be preferred and furnished with the game.

As in all games, but one piece can be played at a time. A piece touched must be played if possible. Players alternate in play.

The player first bringing his pieces in compact in his home or having the last move when a block occurs is the winner of the setting.

The form or shape of the playing pieces is merely a matter of choice and this may be varied at the'will of the manufacturer.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,

it is thought my invention Will be' clear to those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

What I claim is:

1. In a game of the kind described, a game board consisting of sixty-three squares of three alternating colors and three sets of twenty-one playing pieces each colored as are the squares, the arrangement of the board being nine rows of seven squares each, substantially as shown and described,

'2. Means for playing games comprising a game board having siXty-three squares of three alternating colors arranged in nine rows of seven squares each and three sets of tWenty-one-playing pieces each, the several sets being colored to corre'spondto the colors of the game board, said means being adapt- RUDOLPH G. EBERT. 

